Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – It was very disturbing to read in The Courier (February 22) that the government is contemplating terminating all east coast trains in Edinburgh, just at the time when we are urged to use public transport wherever possible, an election is imminent and the V&A is coming to Dundee.
Fortunately, there is an easy solution: the line to Aberdeen must be electrified now that the electrification of Waverley to Queen Street is almost complete. The government is committed to the electrification of all lines in Scotland.
In a recent survey British railways came out worst in Europe in all respects except train frequency and was by far the most expensive and least efficient.
We are very thankful that there have been some recent improvements: Broughty Station now has nine stopping trains, and the early morning train from Carnoustie calling at all stations now arrives in good time to catch the 06.32 Cross Country to Plymouth, which with a change in Edinburgh to a fast electric train, to London before lunchtime.
A change to Eurostar means arrival in Paris or Brussels in time for dinner.
There is also some progress towards a dedicated service linking Dundee with Arbroath, Ladybank, and Perth with frequent trains.
Also in the paper there is an indication that Ryanair may consider using Leuchars as an international airport suitable for golfers, visitors and students for both Dundee and St Andrews.
It may be possible to reopen the line to Leuchars and eventually to St Andrews itself.
Peter Murray Spencer.11 Castleroy Crescent,Broughty Ferry.
Would be more distressed
Sir, – Whilst watching breakfast time television the other morning, I was assailed by a moronic advert for a company advertising loans for the financially distressed.
At the bottom of the screen, an APR of 1737% was shown. With such a blatant level of exploitation, I would suggest that borrowers can be guaranteed to be even more financially distressed after repayment.
With the current thrust to curtail benefits, many vulnerable people might be tempted to incur debt that they cannot afford. It is bad enough that such loan agencies exist at all, but to have them openly advertising in the media is perverse.
So much for advertising standards.
David J. Gardner.7 Croft Road,Auchterarder.
Sleepwalking partners
Sir, – Mr Smart in his letter (February 21) worries that ”people south of the border and in the rest of the world imagine that the majority of Scots want independence.”
I strongly suspect that among people of both categories the vast majority of people actually have some imagination of majority Scots opinion vis-a-vis independence, or any other topic.
Indeed, if there has been any ”sleepwalking” it would seem to have been on the part of the senior partner in this 400-year relationship, whose seeming (though that is not to say actual) blindness to Scottish political realities has given so much fuel to Mr Salmond’s fire.
The same correspondent’s parting shot, that somehow the fact that we fought the war together should bind us, begs the question of whether we should also then be irrevocably bound to Canadians, Australians, Frenchmen, Poles etc.
Stephen Connor.Na Bucance,Praha, Ceska Republika.
Important questions
Sir, – I have read claim and counter claim over the merits of Balmossie Fire Station remaining full-time or being converted to a retained station and the full-time crew being transferred to Forfar. Most recently the letter from Ed Thomson, who makes clear that the views of the constituents in Tayside were paramount in the decision to keep the status quo.
I wonder with the impending single fire service for Scotland is a change likely?
As the SNP has an overall majority in Holyrood they have the power to railroad that change through. What will be interesting is whether the SNP MSPs for the Tayside constituencies are prepared to allow this to happen or will they fight on behalf of their constituents? It will also be interesting to see how many people who support the SNP will continue to do so if a change is forced through.
My other concern is will there be an asset stripping exercise of Tayside Fire and Rescue whom, according to Audit Scotland, is a very well run and importantly, resourced service.
In a single fire service the logical thing to do is move newer equipment to areas of high population. Will our MSPs fight to ensure that that is not allowed to happen? Important questions that deserve answers.
Colin Smith.61 Linfield Road,Carnoustie.
Like a joke
Sir, – I thought the story about the sand being blown from the beach on to the road at Elie was the first line of a joke.
The idea that the blown sand would be polluted by oil and diesel from road vehicles and could not be put back on the beach is unbelieveable.
Was it not already polluted by the oil and waste from ships in the Forth and also from the sewage plants along the coastlines? Has common-sense vanished completely?
John McDonald.14 Rosebery Court,Kirkcaldy.
A difference
Sir, – I refer to a recent front-page story. There is a big difference between what was printed, ‘…were allegedly side-swiped by a vehicle driven by…’ and ‘…were side-swiped by a vehicle allegedly driven by…’
Surely it is the identity of the driver who failed to stop which is in doubt, not the manner in which the unfortunate victims met their deaths?
Timothy Weakley.65A Magdalen Yard Road,Dundee.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.